We live in the Midwest, and today is Sunday, January 5, 2014. We are having a snow day. I made a point of mentioning the date, because weather forecasters are telling us that this will be one of those snowstorms that people will talk about for years to come - blizzard conditions, thunder snow and lots of bitterly cold temperatures - like the storm of '82.
I remember the storm of '82. Now keep in mind that this was 1982, a whole other century ago. It makes me old, because I remember the storm of '82, but none of my kids do. They weren't born yet. I wasn't even pregnant with my oldest, S, when the storm of '82 hit. Back then, they didn't use the phrase "thunder snow" - at least not that I recall - but I recall hearing the thunder with that snow and thinking, "Was that thunder? I don't remember ever hearing thunder when it snowed." But I went back to sleep. And we woke up to 18" of snow that next morning. We were living in our first apartment; the complex was called "Mansion Hill Apartments" at the time, right across Florissant Road from UMSL. (Keep in mind that this was my first husband, my children's father, not G.) I remember walking around outside on that Sunday, treading through the knee-deep snow, and how cold it felt, since the snow was now done, and the clear, bright, sunny skies had followed. I also remember how long it took for things to get back to normal. The snow fell on a Saturday, church was cancelled on Sunday (much like today) and we didn't go back to work until Wednesday or even later for many workers. I was working for the old St. Louis Union Trust Company at the time (now merged into a few different banks in the years since), but that was how many lifetimes ago? Enough that I'm not sure my kids knew these tidbits of info until now (assuming they read this, that is...)
I am sitting in our bedroom typing this out and looking out the windows at the snow and wind. The windows in our bedroom are about 4' off the floor, so my view is really only of the trees and the roof of the house next door. When I first woke up a couple of hours ago, I could see just a light snow and it wasn't blowing much. But about an hour ago the flakes got much bigger, and the wind has picked up considerably. We braved the crowds at the store yesterday - long before the shelves were bare - so we have no known needs to leave the house today, and I am hopeful that does not change.
Speaking of leaving the house, we took down our Christmas tree last night - always a bittersweet sort of experience, right? You hate to see the beauty and decorations come down, but there's another part of you that is ready to see the house get back to normal, too. Well we got a late start on the tree, and since we knew that the snow was coming, we decided that we wanted to go ahead and take the tree to the recycling drop off site for our area so we wouldn't have to think about it later. So yes, that was us pulling up to the Forestwood Park last night about 11pm. You thought that was odd? What were you doing there at that time then, may I ask?
And may I ask? Is there invariably some decoration somewhere that you forget to "see" when you are taking everything down and then you see it the next day? Or even the next week? I do. Mine was the stockings. If you see where we hang the stockings each year, you would think, "Really Deb? You missed the stockings?" And you'd be right. But yes, I did. And of course not all of the totes have been taken downstairs yet, but THAT tote has been already. Sigh.
But I digress. Snow days...aren't they really the best? They are the quiet between the craziness. We have endured the craziness of the stores - no carts, crowded aisles, bare shelves, long lines - and there will be craziness after it's all over - shoveling, clearing cars, driving, power outages - but for the day you are getting the snow? Quiet. Watching. Reading. Tea. Or coffee. Or both.
And bread! There is something about a snow day that means homemade bread to me! I am still choosing my loaf, and I want one that uses bread flour and the white whole wheat, but assuming we don't lose power, there will be homemade bread in our future today!
And pondering. I read this yesterday, originally appearing in The Washington Times but reposted by The Foundry, so I think it is safe to say that this is one of those pieces that can be endorsed by all. It struck me as having that ring of truth that bears repeating and is one of my resolutions or goals for this year - pursuing civility. Snarkiness? That's easy. We don't have to think to be snarky. Bumper sticker theology or politics? Again, easy. But to truly think and articulate our thoughts or why we hold the position we hold or even more importantly think through what a compromise might be that becomes a win-win for everyone? That takes time and restraint and intelligence and openness and yes, civility. So if you see or hear me slipping back into snarkiness or bumper sticker thinking or I return to name calling instead of keeping to the point and debating the idea rather than the person, I want you to call me on it. Remind me of this resolution.
So that is three resolutions I've shared here in recent days...
...the cooking sisterhood actually COOKING this year together!
...Baking Fridays! I am really enjoying planning these out, even if I do post more failures...
...pursuing civility of thought and speech.
I have one more resolution that I want to pass along. Remember the "What's for dinner Wednesdays" idea I mentioned a few days ago? Well I wasn't thrilled with that idea, but I couldn't quite figure out why. But it morphed into this idea...
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What's for Dinner Julia?
Now before you roll your eyes and say, "It been done already, Deb! Remember the movie 'Julie and Julia'? Duh!", give me a moment to explain.
A - I am NOT going to cook every recipe in this book in a year like Julie Powell did.
B - This is NOT that same book. That was Volume One, and this is Volume Two.
C - What if I chose one entrée or vegetable or soup or dessert to make each week and posted about it?
The recipes are LENGTHY - like they put Deb Dissertations to shame, so I won't necessarily be giving you the full recipes and instructions, but I can take pictures and share my results and thoughts of each one. I may not be able to do this every week, but I can shoot for every week and see where we land. Fair enough?
So that's four public resolutions, and that, my friends, is plenty to attempt in addition to the private ones I've made. Yes, I do believe in resolutions from that "an unexamined life isn't worth living" sort of way espoused by Socrates. I prefer to think of them as goals - they feel more achievable to me that way with a bit more flexibility and grace thrown in than the word resolution, but goals are good for all. Without them we tend to drift. With them we tend to go places. Either way we are either dead or 65 someday (no other choices there if ya think about it). And if I'm not dead, I prefer to be 65 and be able to look back and see some goals achieved than look back and wonder, "What did I do with my dreams all that time?"
And this blog is part of that larger, lifetime goal. Thank you for stopping by to witness my attempts to pursue those dreams. You are welcome any time, and I appreciate your encouragement and hopes and prayers for me...for us...
Enjoy your snow day and all those that come after! May your power stay on and may you not have to go anywhere too soon. And may your homemade bread be the best you've ever tasted!
Bye for now!
D
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